Thank you, Ken, for your warm welcome and for hosting this important
conference. Thank you, Secretary Norton, for your service to our
country. Thank you, John, for your leadership as Chairman of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. And thank you, our County
Commissioners, for your hard work to make America's counties great
places to call home. Your being here today represents your commitment
to make your communities even better.

The new initiative I want to talk about today will help you do just
that. Preserve America is a new White House initiative that will
provide you with greater support to protect and restore our nation's
cultural and natural resources -- from monuments and buildings to
landscapes and main streets. The Departments of Interior and Commerce
and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation are your strong
partners in this initiative.

As you traveled here, you may have flown over America's patchwork
landscape of farms and small towns. You may have driven through Main
Street with its welcoming charm or walked past the Jefferson Memorial
with its curving dome and thoughtful presence.

Every mile of your trip was a journey through America's great
heritage -- a heritage our parents and grandparents bestowed to us, and
each of you continue to build upon.

America is blessed with historic architecture, landscapes and
communities. Every one tells a story about the past and provides
insight for the future. But to prepare for the future, we must
remember our history.

Imagine a vast, open space of green and gold dotted with trees of
poplar and pine. Imagine endless waterways and prairies full of deer
and bear. Imagine oceans of grasses as far as the eye can see. This
was the abounding West of America more than 200 years ago. It was where
President Thomas Jefferson and a band of explorers longed to go.

This past Friday marked the day two hundred years ago when
Jefferson received funding from Congress to send his Corps of Discovery
out into the uncharted West. Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and the
Corps took off on a four-year adventure of a lifetime. Their effort to
chart the area between the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast set
these Americans on a voyage that changed our nation forever.

They traveled thousands of miles, crossing new lands and meeting
new people. They opened the unknown West for further exploration; and
they experienced the tremendous beauty that is America. Clark wrote in
his journal that it was, "the grandest sight he had ever beheld."

During their travels, they met a young Shoshone woman named
Sacagawea. She helped Lewis and Clark communicate with the Native
Americans. She was a guide, friend and explorer. At the age of
seventeen, with an infant on her back, Sacagawea traveled with the
Corps to the Pacific and back. Her role in the expansion of America is
as well known as that of Lewis and Clark.

Residents of the small town of Salmon, Idaho, where Sacagawea was
born, want every American to remember her contributions. The residents
of Salmon and Lemhi County sought a fitting way to honor her and to
celebrate the bicentennial of the expedition. They partnered with the
Department of Interior and the Bureau of Land Management to create the
Sacagawea Interpretive Center. There visitors will learn about
Sacagawea and her role in charting the West. When the center opens in
August, it will be one of many opportunities for learning and
recreation.

In Idaho modern-day explorers can follow the Lewis and Clark Trail
by foot, boat or horseback. The segment of trail that runs through the
Salmon and Lemhi Valleys is one of the few original portions still in
existence. Visitors can see remnants of the old Indian path where
Lewis and Clark crossed under the Bitterroot Mountains. They can picnic
near the "Pirimids" rock formation, which Clark mentions in his
journal, and visit Tower Rock where he camped.

As visitors enjoy the rugged beauty of Salmon, they can learn about
one of our nation's most historic events. I applaud Commissioner Robert
Cope and the residents of Lemhi County for their hard work to preserve
this historic site for continued learning and enjoyment.

This is what Preserve America is all about. Our nation's
cultural and natural resources are important parts of our heritage.
Preserve America will promote historic and cultural preservation
and encourage greater public appreciation of our national treasures. As we recognize
the contributions Lewis and Clark made to our national landscape, we
can think about our own contributions to future generations. The very
definition of heritage is something that is passed down from preceding
generations. So I ask you today, what will we pass down to our children
-- what will their heritage be?

President Theodore Roosevelt said, "Our duty to the whole...bids us...restrain from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The
movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for
the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially
democratic in spirit, purpose, and method." That is our call today.

Our land is the foundation upon which the American story is
written. Our history is rooted in buildings, parks and towns. When we
are able to walk the same trail Lewis and Clark once did, history comes
to life.

Every American deserves to discover and learn about our nation's
heritage. But imagine if our children could never see the Liberty Bell
or the small town where their grandparents grew up. Imagine if they
could not step foot upon the same land English settlers did when they
first landed in America.

Receding shores once threatened Jamestown Island in Virginia where
the first settlers arrived. But thanks to a federal renovation effort
which stabilized the shoreline, visitors can continue to explore this
island. As we approach the 400th anniversary of the founding of
Jamestown, we continue to learn from this wonderful site -- remnants of
the original fort were discovered during the renovation.

Many of our historic sites and monuments are deteriorating and need
to be preserved. I am proud to serve as the honorary chair of Save
America's Treasures, which is working to restore and protect these
valuable resources. And I am proud of the President's commitment to
continue to support Save America's Treasures with 30 million dollars
this year.

The President wants to continue this support and the preservation
of our heritage through Preserve America. Today, President Bush
signed an Executive Order on Preserve America to ensure that
everyone, especially our children, will continue to explore and learn from
historic treasures like Jamestown.

This order directs federal agencies to inventory and promote
greater use of historical sites in partnership with state, tribal, and
local governments. Preserve America will provide more
opportunities for preservation and increase tourism and economic development. There
are so many stories of preservation at work in our communities.

Arlington House is the ancestral home of Robert E. Lee. This
beautiful building overlooks Washington, DC, from Arlington National
Cemetery. It is one of the most visited historic homes in the country,
and the National Park Service wants to keep it that way. Through a
recent restoration project, the home was restored and many safety
upgrades were made.

And recently in Topeka, Kansas, the Monroe School Building was
restored as a learning center on the Brown v. Board of Education
National Historic Site. This center will teach visitors about the
importance of this landmark decision and the civil rights movement.

Our open spaces and landscapes also provide us with great
opportunities for learning. Preserve America will promote the
conservation and enjoyment of our natural resources.

Our parks and open spaces are sanctuaries for learning and
reflection. And for the President and me, the outdoors is a great place
to relax and unwind.

Growing up in Midland, I often visited the wonderful parks of West
Texas. Monahans Sandhills State Park is one of my favorites, with sand
dunes which children of all ages love to slide down. The park is more
than three thousand acres, but the dunes actually stretch hundreds of
miles. They mark the spot where the Permian Sea used to be.

I remember trips to Monahans with my Sunday School class and Girl
Scout troop. The President also remembers visiting the park with his
Cub Scout Troop. Barbara Bush, his mother, served as den mother for the
troop. According to the President, it was about this time that her
hair turned white.

Many presidents and first ladies have been deeply committed to
preserving our natural heritage. Lady Bird Johnson is one of my great
inspirations. Mrs. Johnson made America more beautiful by restoring
city and national parks and re-planting native grasses and
wildflowers.

She worked tirelessly to preserve them and promote their use in
planned landscapes. Her work is evident in fields of bright wildflowers
and native grasses that line our roadsides and parklands. She once said
of her work, "I've had a long love affair with the environment. It is
my sustenance, my pleasure, my joy. Flowers in the city are like
lipstick on a woman -- it just makes you look better to have a little
color."

We are fortunate to live in a country with so much color and so
many wide open spaces for families to enjoy. One beautiful place they
will be able to enjoy for years to come is Pelican Island in Indian
River County, Florida. This Island was designated the first National
Refuge by President Theodore Roosevelt 100 years ago. Indian River
County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working hard to
restore the refuge and bring visitors back since erosion has wiped out
half the island.

A new foot path called Centennial Trail will open soon, taking
explorers right through the refuge. Visitors will also have a great
view of the island from an 18-foot observation tower. Previously the
only way to see the island was by boat. I commend Indian River County
Commissioners Thomas Lowther and Kenneth Macht for their hard work to
preserve this important piece of our natural heritage.

This is exactly the type of conservation we want to continue
through Preserve America. Through the Cooperative Conservation
Initiative, the Department of the Interior will support local
partnerships that conserve open spaces. CCI expands the President's
commitment to conservation through partnership, civic involvement and
economic incentives. CCI will provide 15 million dollars this year for
conservation partnerships. The President proposes to double these
partnerships in 2004 with 36 million dollars in cooperative
conservation initiative grants.

The second goal of Preserve America is to support community
efforts to restore cultural resources for heritage tourism. A recent NACo
[National Association of Counties] study explained that heritage tourism is a strong economic development tool.
It creates jobs and increases property values and tax revenue. As we
preserve and enhance our cultural and natural heritage, we increase the
appeal of our communities for residents and visitors. Preserving and
celebrating our past is critical to heritage tourism and thriving
communities.

Texas is one state that has a successful heritage tourism program
because local, regional, and statewide groups work together. Spending
by visitors in the Texas Heritage Trails region totaled more than 95
million dollars from 1999 to 2001.

Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, Iowa, experienced similar success
thanks to its Main Street Program. In the 1980s, the farming industry
slowed and factories closed. Many in Cedar Falls lost their jobs and
left the historic town. In just a few years, the downtown area was
nearly vacant. The community took action and formed a Main Street
program that has grown to include merchants, residents, and neighbors.
They formed inter-agency partnerships to encourage economic
development.

Today, more than 14 million dollars of private investment has
helped to rehabilitate nearly 300 buildings. More than 200 new jobs
were created, and Cedar Falls received a Great American Main Street
Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Congratulations to County Auditor Grant Veeder and Environmental Health
Manager John Linda for their success.

Through Preserve America, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans will
direct the Economic Development Administration, which has a grant
budget of nearly 290 million dollars, to support and promote more
projects like this. America's downtowns and main streets are vital
parts of our communities. By ensuring their success, we strengthen
America.

Communities like Cedar Falls will continue to be honored for their
hard work through two Preserve America awards. The Presidential
Award for Preserve America will reward innovative partnerships that
achieve public benefits through preservation. Communities that integrate
preservation and tourism may also apply to be designated as Preserve
America Communities. These awards will showcase model projects and
encourage community leaders like you to share your experience with
others.

I am thrilled that Preserve America will help save our past and
ensure a future filled with open spaces and opportunities for learning
and enjoyment. The Preserve America Executive Order, the awards and
federal support, will provide strong incentives for continued
preservation and enjoyment of our cultural and natural resources.

The late author Stephen Ambrose detailed the epic journey of Lewis
and Clark in a book titled, "Lewis and Clark, A Voyage of
Discovery." Ambrose and his family set out on their own journey to retrace Lewis
and Clark's expedition. In the introduction he explains how this
happened.

He wrote, "For our family, the origin of our exploration of the
Lewis and Clark Trail came on Christmas Day 1975.... We got to
discussing where we wanted to spend the Fourth of July to celebrate our country's 200th birthday. I...suggested Lemhi Pass. Our motivations were to see what Lewis saw, to learn, and to be together as a family.... And
in the process we saw our country. My daughter wrote in her journal, 'In my family, summers are not just a break from school but an adventure into
America.'"

By preserving our cultural and natural heritage and making our
communities vibrant places to visit, the "adventure into America" will
become the adventure of a lifetime. Thank you.